The NC State University Stream Restoration Program's biennial southeast stream restoration conference has a new brand: EcoStream - Stream Ecology and Restoration Conference. As the science of stream restoration evolves, we have come to realize the importance of preserving, enhancing, and restoring the entire riparian ecosystem. Through EcoStream, we hope to facilitate advancements in restoration that better achieve functional inter-connectedness of wetlands, streams, hydrology, riparian corridors and the biologic communities they support.

For 2014, we intend for EcoStream attendees to expand their knowledge base and motivate each other to plan and implement ecosystem restoration projects given future challenges. To that end, we have chosen a timely theme for this year's conference: adapting to a changing climate. As the global climate shifts, scientists predict that patterns of temperature and precipitation will change, which can result in increased flood intensity, varied hydrologic regimes, changes in benthic and fish habitat, and shifts in riparian community structure. Stream and riparian restoration decisions are often made without considering how these restored ecosystems may function under future conditions. Concurrently, we are experiencing significant economic, social and political changes that are also relevant to ecosystem protection and restoration. As restoration scientists and practitioners, we need to consider these changes by anticipating and adapting our management and design practices.

We invite the academic and professional community to join us in a discussion of these issues. Through presentations, panel conversations, exhibits and networking among peers and colleagues, we can help to shape the future of stream restoration in the Southeast in a time of a changing climate.

The Call for Abstracts will be announced very soon! Abstract topics are currently being developed by the conference committee and will be posted at the conference website shortly. The conference website, when ready, will be at: http://www.ncsu.edu/srp/conference/.